"Then I'll head home and wait for the feast, Your Highness."
"Hold on!" the Prince of Badong called Wang Yang back irritably, then ordered an attendant, "The book."
The attendant brought the book over. The Prince of Badong took it and flipped through it casually. "Comprehensive Study of the Southern Man. You wrote this?"
The moment Wang Yang heard that, he knew the little brat had learned of his imprisonment and released the book ahead of schedule to give him more bargaining chips with the Prince of Badong.
The silk was due for delivery next month, and the Prince of Badong might well kill him to silence him afterward. This was no time to hide his light and bide his time; he needed to show his worth. That was also an important reason Wang Yang had made no attempt to conceal his scheming against the Chief Clerk right under the prince's nose, displaying both his cunning and his influence. Still, such displays required moderation. Cards on the table and cards held back each had their uses. What to conceal and what to reveal was all a matter of judgment.
Wang Yang said, "I did."
The Prince of Badong scrutinized him. "You understand Southern Barbarian Studies too? You really do hide your depths..."
"You flatter me, Your Highness. I only know a little."
According to Xiao Baoyue's plan, this was where Wang Yang should offer the bait himself. But Wang Yang had rejected that idea. Not only had he rejected it, he had also taken a broad axe to the lines Xiao Baoyue had originally prepared.
"You know a little, and you've written a whole book?"
Wang Yang smiled. "Writing a book isn't difficult. Writing a good book is."
The Prince of Badong stared at him. "Then how good is yours?"